Feedback: A Look Inside The Meth Lab Battle

Tools

It might look like a simple styrofoam custard cup, but police say what it is used for is a recipe for disaster - a portable methamphetamine lab known as a "one pot" or "shake and bake" operation.

"The chemicals involved in a meth lab are highly combustible, highly explosive," said Scott Bonno, St. Lawrence County undersheriff.

Authorities say meth lab seizures in St. Lawrence County are up 500 percent.

Officials have been gearing up in what they describe as a proactive attack on meth makers.

"The user who's producing meth is even more dangerous because often times they're high and they'll knock over chemicals - creating fires, explosions or placing fumes into the community which are dangerous. The meth producers are equally dangerous to the community because they're providing cheap drugs to users and it's a very, very dangerous drug," said District Attorney Mary Rain.

A total of five active labs have been found since January, including two found on the same day in Canton and Ogdensburg.

That is raising new concerns about the lethal drug's availability, impact and safety not only for the meth-makers, but the public.

"We're in fear of this becoming an epidemic, if you will, and we don't want it. We had a heroin problem last summer and now we're on to meth," said Sean O'Brien of the county's Drug Task Force.

Mixing cold pills containing pseudoephedrine with substances such as acid, toxic cleaners, lithium batteries and other ingredients in a plastic 2-liter soda bottle or small sytrofoam cup can make small batches of meth with little odor in a house or even a car as part of a portable or rolling lab.

The explosive fire from a portable meth lab is not only fast but dangerous.

County Drug Task Force members say the increase in meth manufacturing, using and distributing is a dangerous sign and needs to be addressed before the problem gets out of hand.

In addition to the meth labs being very dangerous, toxic and highly explosive, anyone convicted of the highest count of making meth can face up to 25 years in state prison.